2 Kentucky men acquitted of hate-crimes charges

LONDON, Ky. — Two Kentucky men have been acquitted of hate-crimes charges in a trial involving an attack on a gay man.

But jurors found both Anthony Ray Jenkins and his cousin David Jason Jenkins guilty on the charges of kidnapping and conspiracy to a kidnapping in connection with the assault on 29-year-old Kevin Pennington last year at a rural state park.

They had been charged with violating a section of a federal hate-crimes law that has not previously been prosecuted in the U.S.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Hydee Hawkins told the jury that the two men used anti-gay slurs while kicking, beating and stomping on Pennington.